Washing machine drier attachment



Aug. 26, 1952 N, TUCKER 2,608,003

WASHING MACHINE DRIER ATTACHMENT Filed Feb. 11, 1952 3 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR ATTORNEY Aug. 26, 1952 N. e. TUCKE R WASHING MACHINE DRIER ATTACHMENT 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Feb. 11, 1952 n w 5 a n H. M w M N. G. TUCKER WASHING MACHINE DRIER ATTACHMENT Aug. 26, 1952 Filed Feb. 11, 1952 VIIII'III INVENTOR" Mrl/A/wa 62am. 75am ATTORNEY Patented Aug. 26, 1952 i wn'snmo moni i z snnmmonmnnr I Nathaniel George Tucker, Forest Hills, as-

siznor ato "Tucker & Ross Development 00.,

ApplicationFbruai-y 11, 1'95'2-,,Serialivo. 270;969 4 Claims. (01. 341-88) This invention relates to washing and crying machines of the domestic type, and in particular an attachment having a ian-or blower in combination with a neating inounted "on a plate having aw-indow therein and in which the plate is adapted to "be inserted the window opening of s -conventional door of a washing machine, whereby after washing and rinsing clothes the water may be drained from the machine and heated air circulated through the clothes, while they are still in the machine, for crying.

Thepu-rpo'se of this invention is to provide. a drying unit that is adapted to be applied to a washing machine whereby the same machine may be used for both Washing and drying, thereby obviating the necessity of one fainny naving'both a washing machine and a drying machine.

Various attempts have been made to combine washing and drying machines, however, such maichines incorporate the "drying elements in the washing machine housing where they are subjected to moisture, and eve-n water, and where they have been used in the nicer of the machine they occupy the entire door area. and eliminate the usual window, which has become. a necessity.

With this thought in mind this invention contemplates an imnroved method of incorporating air circulating means in a washing machine of the "type having a conventional soap inserting opening in the top and in which saidopening is in communication with the: washing chamber o'f-the machine, wherein the machine operates: in the usual manner in the washing step, and in which after washing and rinsing the water is drained from the machine andheated air circulated through clothes in the machine, the air circulating means being in the form o'fan attache ment and having a window therein so that visibilit of the interior of the machine is provided continuously.

The object of this invention is, therefore, to provide means for. incorporating a drying step in a conventional washing machinev without changing the construction of the machine. and which provides visabilit'y to the interior of the machine. 7

Another object ofthe invention is to provide a drying attachment for-washingr'n'achines that may be supplied as a. separate'uni-t that is adapted to be installed by the average layman.

A further object of the invention is to provide a drying attachment for washing machines that includes a blower and a heatingunlt' and in which the complete attachment is of simple and economical construction.

With these and other objects and advantages in view the invention embodies a l'p'late adapted to be installed in the conventional opening in the. 'door of a washing machine in place of the usual glass panel, and a blower and heating ere- 'ment mounted on the lower partof the plate, the upper partof the plate having awin'dow therein and an "opening in the lower part of the plate through which airis injected'by the blower having closure means therein.

Other features and advantagosof the invention will appear from the following description taken.

in connection with the drawings, wherein:.

Figure l is a. View illustrating the application of the drying unit. to a washing machine. the washing machine being shown in dotted lines and "having a soap inserting opening also shown in dotted lines and positioned in the top.

Figure 2 is a sectional plan through the mounti-n'g plate of the drying unit with the motor and heating unit shown thereon and with parts broken away and shown in section.

Figure 3 is a front elevational view of the mounting plate with the blower "omitted and wili the connection to the blower shown in section.

Figure 4 is a vertical cross section through the center of the mounting plate showing the window and connection for the blower and heater and showing a cover plate for the connection secured in position with pins in bayonet slots.

Figure 5 is a side-elevational View of the blower with parts of the heater housing and mounting plate broken away, and illustrating a inotlificas non wherein the blower connection is covered with pivotally mounted baffles that swing out; "wardry when contacted by air from the blower.

Figure 6 is a view looking toward the inner sur face of the door of a washing machine showing the mounting plate secured in the door and. also showing the closure plate with the bayonet slots as shown in Figure 4.

Figure 'I is a detail showing the closure plate as shown in Figures 4 and 6.

Figure 8 is a detail showing amethodyof se"- curing the. mounting plate in the opening of a washing machine door.

Figure 9 is a similar detail showinga modifica tio'n wherein the mounting plate is held by clips secured to the door with shoulder rivets,- said section t'akenon line 9-9 of Figure 6. Fig: "e 10 is aview showing a Wiring diagram illustrating a typical method of connecting. the elements of the dryer attachment in the conventional circuit of a washing. machine.

Referring now to the drawings wherein like reference characters denote corresponding parts the washing machine dryer attachment of this invention includes a mounting plate ID, a glass panel H mounted in the plate providing a window, a blower l2 having a motor I3, and a heating unit I4 having heating elements I 5 therein.

The mounting plate ID is adapted to be installed in an opening iii in a door I! of a washing machine in place of the conventional glass panel that is usually provided in the opening.

The mounting plate is secured in an annular recess l8 of the door with a continuous ring l9 that may be secured to the door with screws 20 or other suitable means. The mounting plate may also be held with clips 2| and 22 which are pivotally mounted on rivets or screws 23 and 24, and

vided with shoulders 25 which prevent binding,

and heads 26 are positioned on the outside of the door with countersunk openings 27 in the clips positioned to receive heads 23 of reduced sections 29 of the rivets. Gaskets or packing washers 39 are, also provided around the edge of the plate, and it will also be understood that the recess in which the edge of the mounting plate is positioned may be sealed with a rubber washer 3|, as shown in Figure 8, or by other means.

. The glass panel H is positioned in a similar recess. 32 in the mounting plate H), and this may be permanently installed with a continuous .ring33, or 'held by clips similar to the clips 2i and 22, and this may also be sealed with a gasket, such as'a gasket 34.

The mounting plate I0 is also provided with an opening 35 through which heated air is circulated from the blower through a box-like housing positioned perpendicular to the mounting plate and into fabrics in the washing machine and during the washing step this opening is closed with a plate 36 having pins 3? and 38 extended from the ends. The pins 3'! and 38 are positioned to be inserted in bayonet slots 39 and 40 in the mounting plate, and with the plate mounted in this manner it may readily be removed when it is desired to dry fabrics in the washing machine.

The closure means may also be formed as illustrated in Figure 5 wherein louvers or baflles 4|, pivotally mounted by pins 42, are positioned in a recess 43 of a collar 44 on a mounting plate 45 similar to the plate l9, and having an opening 46 therein. The collar 44 is provided with an opening 41 that registers with an opening of a duct 48 that extends from a blower 49, and in this design heating elements 56 are provided in a surrounding housing 5| that extends from the collar 44 and that provides a heated chamber through which the air is circulated. The blower is provided with a motor 52 and the blower housing is provided with a flange 53 by which it is secured to the housing 5| by bolts 54.

The circuit to the dryer attachment blower motor I3 is preferably connected in the conventional circuit of the washing machine as shown in Figure 10 wherein the circuit on the left hand side of the dotted line 55 represents the conventional circuit, and the circuit of the blower motor and heater is connected to the conventional circuit at the points 56 and 51. Current is supplied to the washing machine through wires 58 and 59, and wires 60 and GI, connected to the wire 58 at the points 62 and 63, are connected to terminals 64 and 65 of a switch 66. Wires 61 and 68 are also connected to terminals 69 and 10 of a wire H, and the opposite ends of the wires 61 and 68 are connected to terminals 12 and 13 '4 of the switch 66. Arms of the switch connecting the terminals 65 and 64 and the terminals 13 and 12 are positioned to contact terminals 14 and 15 when the switch is actuated.

Upon completion of the washing and rinsing operations or steps the switch is thrown so that the arms contact the terminals 14 and 15 whereby a circuit is completed from'the' wire 58 through the wire 6| and wires 16 and Tl to the heating elements [5 and blower motor l3, respectively, and from the heating elements and motor through wires 18 and 19 to the wire 59. At the same time a circuit is completed by a wire through the wire 68 and wires 8| and 82 through the washing machine motor 83 so that the washing machine motor will continue to operate to tumble the clothes or otherfabrics therein during the drying step.

The circuit is also provided with a reset thermostat, as indicated by the numeral 84, so that after the completion of the drying step the circuit will be automatically closed whereby the dryer circuit is set for the next operation.

With the parts arranged in this manner this comparatively simple unit includingthe window, blower and heater mounted in or on the mounting plate are manufactured and sold independent of or in combination with a washing machine, and the unit is installed in the usual opening of a washing machine door, whereby after washing and rinsing clothes heated air may be circulated through the clothes holding element of the machine with the air escaping through an opening in the top of the machine through which soap is inserted into the machine, and the clothes may be dryed without being-removed from the machine.

From the foregoing description it is thought to be obvious that a washing machine drying unit constructed in accordance with my invention is particularly well adapted for use by reason of the convenience and facility with which it may be assembled and operated, and it will also be obvious that my invention is susceptible of other changes and modifications without departing from the principles and spirit thereof, and for this reason I do not wish to be understood as limiting myself to the precise arrangement and formation of the several parts herein shown in carrying out my invention in practice, except as claimed.

Having thus fully described the invention what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is:

1. In a dryer attachment for use in a conventional opening of a door of a washing machine, the combination which comprises a circular mounting plate adapted to be positioned in the opening of a door of a washing machine, and said plate having an opening therethrough, a box-like housing mounted on said plate, extended perpendicularly from the plate, and surrounding said opening, and a blower having a centrally positioned inlet opening in one side thereof and a rectangular-shaped peripheral discharge positioned with said discharge communicating with said box-like housing, said blower mounted on the box-like housing and positioned whereby air from the blower passes through the box-like housing and mounting plate and into the washing machine in a path perpendicular to said mounting plate.

2. In a dryer attachment for use in a conventional opening of a, door of a washing machine,

the combination which comprises a circular plate having an opening therethrough, a boxlike housing mounted on said plate, extended perpendicularly from the plate, and surrounding said opening, electric heating elements in said box-like housing for heating air passing through the housing, and a blower having a peripheral discharge positioned with said discharge communicating with said box-like housing, said blower mounted on the box-like housing and positioned whereby air from the blower passes through the box-like housing, over the heating elements therein and through the mounting plate into the washing machine with the air traveling in a path perpendicular to said mounting plate.

3. In a dryer attachment for use in a conventional opening of a door of a washing machine, the combination which comprises a circular mounting plate adapted to be positioned in the opening of a door of a washing machine, and said plate having upper and lower openings therethrough, a glass panel sealed in said upper opening, a box-like housing mounted on said plate, extended perpendicularly from the plate, and surrounding the said lower opening of the plate, electric heating elements positioned to heat air passing through said box-like housing, and a blower having a peripheral discharge positioned with said discharge communicating with the boxlike housing, said blower mounted on the boxlike housing and positioned whereby air from the blower passes through the box-like housing and through the mounting plate into the washing machine in a path perpendicular to said mounting plate.

4. In a dryer attachment for use in a conventional opening of a door of a washing machine, the combination which comprises a circular mounting plate adapted to be positioned in the opening of a door of a washing machine. and said plate having upper and lower openings there through, a glass panel sealed in said upper opening of the plate, a box-like housing mounted on said plate, extended perpendicularly from the plate, and surrounding the lower opening of the plate, electric heating elements positioned to heat air passing through the box-like housing, a closure carried by the mounting plate and positioned to close said lower opening from the inside of the washing machine, means actuating said closure to open said lower opening of the mounting plate, and a blower having a discharge opening, said blower carried by the extended end 0! the boxlike housing and positioned with the discharge thereof adapted to discharge air through the boxlike housing and lower opening of the mounting plate into the washing machine with the air traveling in a path perpendicular to the mounting plate.

NATHANIEL GEORGE TUCKER.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS 

